The January 7 AEW Dynamite will serve as the first edition of the new year with an intriguing lineup already announced for the show.
Coming off the heels of an eventful New Year’s Smash special, AEW will try to continue their momentum with another noteworthy night to kick off 2026.
From the look of the show to new storylines being introduced, there should be several significant takeaways from the January 7 episode.
Here are eight potential changes to the first AEW Dynamite of 2026.
8. Willow Nightingale’s Reign As Double Champion Begins
On the December 31 New Year’s Smash edition of AEW Dynamite, Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Moné to win the TBS Championship.
Post match, Harley Cameron, The Conglomeration and JetSpeed came out to celebrate, but then AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander came in to reconcile with her former best friend, hugging Willow to the joy of the crowd in attendance.
Now that Nightingale has made history as the first woman to hold two titles in AEW, it should be very interesting what is next for Willow moving forward.
Whether it be a new tag team stepping up for the Babes of Wrath or Moné looking to regain her TBS Title, Willow will have a lot on her plate that will make things extremely compelling in the AEW women’s division to kick off 2026.
Click the next page button below for more
7. Mercedes Moné Losing Her Mind & Her Titles
Following her loss to Willow Nightingale last week, Mercedes Moné could be seen outside of the ring in disbelief that she has lost her coveted TBS Championship.
This isn’t the first title lost by Mercedes who made history in 2025 by setting the record for holding the most championships at one time.
After collecting 13 titles at once, it seems like fans are witnessing the slow demise of “Ultimo Moné” before their eyes.
The championship gold does not seem like the only thing Mercedes Moné is losing as her mind seems to be falling more and more from her grasp with her empire slowly crumbling around her.
Click the next page button below for more
6. Marina Shafir Becomes New #1 Contender For Kris Statlander’s AEW Women’s Championship After Defeating Timeless Toni Storm
The rivalry between Marina Shafir and Timeless Toni Storm will come to a head when these two ladies go one-on-one on the January 7 edition of AEW Dynamite.
The first Dynamite of the new year will see an intense battle between these two rivals and the winner should get something in return.
With the Death Riders recently adding the AEW Continental Championship to their ranks, Shafir could bring another title to the faction by going after the AEW Women’s World Championship.
If she is able to defeat a four-time AEW Women’s Champion like Storm, Shafir could become the number one contender to face Statlander for the gold next.
Click the next page button below for more
5. Presentation Changes To The Logo & Aesthetics For Dynamite
At the start of 2024, AEW Dynamite underwent a presentation change that saw the introduction of an updated look for the entire show.
With a new more colorful logo and overall aesthetic change, it was an update that felt necessary for the show moving forward.
However, this logo and presentation change has been present for two years now. With 2026 now underway, it would make sense for AEW to once again give Dynamite an overhaul.
From the logo and ring mat to the production and lighting, AEW Dynamite could look a bit different starting with the first episode of 2026 on January 7.
Click the next page button below for more
4. Shelton Benjamin Earns A Shot At AEW Continental Championship With A Win Over Jon Moxley
On the December 31 New Year’s Smash special of AEW Dynamite, Jon Moxley defeated Josh Alexander in an AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match.
Post match, The Hurt Syndicate’s Shelton Benjamin came to the stage alongside MVP to indicate that he wanted next against Moxley.
The January 7 Dynamite will see Benjamin being next in line for an Eliminator Match against the Death Riders leader.
Benjamin could get the job done and pick up a win that should earn him a shot at Moxley’s AEW Continental Championship in the weeks to come.
Click the next page button below for more
3. Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher Return To A New Dynamic Within The Don Callis Family Following AEW Worlds End
Back at AEW Worlds End, Kazuchika Okada defeated Konosuke Takeshita to advance to the Continental Classic Finals after using a screwdriver that was hidden in the turnbuckle.
This led to Kyle Fletcher not having the screwdriver to help him win against Jon Moxley and coming up short. However, Moxley then went on to defeat Okada to win the Continental Classic tournament and become the new AEW Continental Champion.
Okada and Takeshita then competed in the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 event with two completely different results as “The Rainmaker” beat Hiroshi Tanahashi in his final match, while Takeshita lost the IWGP World Heavyweight Title to Yota Tsuji.
With the entire Don Callis Family set to appear on the January 7 AEW Dynamite, there should be a new tense dynamic within the group following Okada’s actions at Worlds End and the results of Wrestle Kingdom 20.
Click the next page button below for more
2. Cracks Start To Form In Alliance Between Swerve Strickland & Hangman Adam Page
The headline bout for the January 7 edition of AEW Dynamite looks to be Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland vs. HOOK and Powerhouse Hobbs of the Opps in a Lights Out Match.
Ever since Strickland’s return to All Elite Wrestling at Full Gear 2025, Swerve has formed an unlikely alliance with Hangman that has seen them do battle with The Opps on several occasions.
However, the history and animosity between Page and Strickland is still there and could come up at any turn along the way.
An errant miscommunication could lead to Hangman and Swerve showing cracks in this fragile partnership during that Lights Out Match on the first AEW Dynamite of 2026.
Click the next page button below for more
1. Kenny Omega Confronts AEW World Champion MJF
After stating that he had some unfinished business to take care of, Kenny Omega appeared on the big screen to stake his claim for the AEW World Championship, interrupting MJF’s celebration on AEW Dynamite: New Year’s Smash.
MJF responded by saying that Omega was too scared to stake his claim to his face, but that could change on the first AEW Dynamite of the new year.
Following his appearance in Japan at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20, Omega could be back on AEW TV and can confront the two-time AEW World Champion.
“The Cleaner” confronting MJF could start a compelling storyline where he has to go through the champion’s obstacles before getting the opportunity that he is looking for.
To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!
Comments.
Loading comments…